J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-141-01-02 on 1 February 1995. Downloaded from

J R Army Med Corps 1995; 141: 7-14 MITCHINER LECTURE, 1994

The National Service Era in the RAMC 8 November 1994, Royal Army Medical College, Millbank, London

Col JSG Blair OBE, TO, KStJ, BA, ChM, Hon 0 Litt(St Andrews), FRCS(Ed)

May I begin by thanking General Mayes, the Director Scotland call a "lad 0' pairts", or the French call "homme General of the Army Medical Services, for asking me to doue" . give this year's Mitchiner Lecture. Over many years I Not all aspects of his character and personality were have at varying intervals sat in the audience at this lecture exemplary. Coarseness when teaching students and and looked in some awe at those giving it, and never rudeness towards staff can never be justified. Nor need dreamt that one day I would share their high honour. sarcasm be a vehicle for student instruction, universal as it May I also thank General George Cow an, the once was. Nevertheless Mitchiner clearly had a quality of Commandant, for his kind introduction. I had a high kindness for the less fortunate in life, plus a charisma, regard for his ability from his student days: the Army which were real, and which remind us of a truth perhaps Medical Services are fortunate in having at this time his being ignored at present: a man may have an obvious

organising and clinical skills, both of the highest calibre. failing or weakness in one sphere and yet still be capableguest. Protected by copyright. The English are a great race, and the man in whose of giving service of the highest value to others. Such a memory this lecture is given was a very English person can treat his neighbours with charity and Englishman. He was a Southerner and not a Northerner, a kindliness more than one whose correctness of character Londoner, with perhaps some of the characteristics of the is lacking in those saving graces. So it was with Philip Cockney about him. Mitchiner. Philip Mitchiner was born in Croydon in June 1888 and I have given this outline of his life to remind us of the died aged 64 in October 1952. His father was described as sort of person we are to remember this evening. At no a "corn merchant and not wealthy"; he won a scholarship time was General Mitchiner a professional regular to School - where the Director General I served soldier or officer. He was not the first Territorial to under, Sir Norman Talbot, was also a pupil. Interestingly, achieve General's rank; Luce did this, also in the Middle the Mitchiner family moved to Reigate to allow their East, late in the First War. But he was one whose life, scholar son to continue to live at home and not have to including 8 years of war, was given over to 30 years of become a school boarder. voluntary enthusiastic service. Our Corps today still needs In an outstanding early career he entered St. Thomas' his like. Hospital Medical School with a science scholarship, won In this he was wholly unlike the men I invite you to the gold medal on graduating in 1912, passed his English recall this evening. They were the thousands who were Fellowship in 1913, and graduated MS of London involved in the only period in British history when http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ University the next year. In due course he was on the staff conscription continued in peacetime. Their Era, the of St. Thomas' Hospital, wrote in collaboration a notable National Service Era, is unique for that reason, and I surgical text-book, and became the epitome of the believe it merits recording in the history of our country volunteer soldier. Service in the ranks, in The Queen's and our Corps. It also included a critical time for the Volunteers from the age of 16 and later in the London transition of the RAMC when the changes of the new University OTC, gave him a consideration for the soldier National Health Service and its new requirements for he never lost. medical training had to be appreciated, and their Commissioned in 1914 in the 5th London General implications understood. I hope to show how our Corps Hospital of the newly formed Territorial Force, he served handled both the novelties it had to face, and handled in the First War and after in Salonika, in the medical sub­ them well. unit of London University OTC for 13 years between the As a social study the National Service Era is of on October 1, 2021 by wars, was ADMS of the 2nd London Division TA in 1933 immense interest. Apart from a very few who did not do (until 1967 the Territorial Army was indeed an Army, National Service, either from physical inability at one end with brigades, divisions, and all supporting arms and of the spectrum to selfish contrivance at the other, the services), ADMS of the new 1st Anti-Aircraft Division in whole of the young male population entered the Armed 1939, later DDMS in Norway in 1940 and then in Forces over a 15 year period. That this unheard-of novelty Northern Command, and finally as Consultant Surgeon to succeeded was in large measure due to the resilience and the Middle East in 1944. Mitchiner was what we in cheerful tolerance of the British Tribes - English, Welsh, J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-141-01-02 on 1 February 1995. Downloaded from

8 Mitchiner Lecture, 1994 Scots, and most Northern Irish, when the young and their The detailed provisions of the Act, couched also in parents were recovering from the exhaustion of a World terms which remind us that continuity is one of the War. Two historical aspects, of significance when the greatest assets our small nation possesses, followed. The concept of military call-up outwith war was proposed, original Act was to last for three years in the first instance, may be dealt with first. but if "an address is presented to His Majesty by each The first has already been alluded to - the soil, the House of Parliament praying that this Act should be feelings and attitude of the boys and youths themselves, continued in force for a further period of one year from and their parents. The second was the seed - the passage the time at which it would otherwise expire, His Majesty through parliament of the necessary legislation. may by Order in Council direct that this Act shall It is nowadays forgotten just how exhausted the British continue in force for that further period". were by the end of 1945. They had sold almost all of their This particular Act of Parliament was, of course, for the overseas financial wealth to keep the war effort going. Mitchiners of this world, those reservists who had The children and adults who were in the home base had volunteered and contracted for call-out under the very suffered bombing, and learned the meaning of the conditions expressed - by King's proclamation. Later in blackout, clothes and food rationing, so that those of us in the 1939-45 War, conscription was ordered, as always by that age range have never got over the feeling that we Act of Parliament, for those who had not so volunteered. must always leave a clean plate. Rationing would While the end of the Second World War brought to an continue until the mid-fifties, industry would be slow to end the threat of German domination in Europe - at least pick up in spite of the efforts of the post-war Labour for a time - it quickly became apparent that the move of government. It was the tiredness of a nation which had the Soviets west was posing the biggest threat to western held the ring for a century, and by the inexorable law of Europe since the time of Charlemagne, when the Saracens history, was now about to feel that retirement had much to were at their most militant. Their western boundaryguest. Protected by copyright. commend it. extended to the Eastern Zone of divided Germany. All the Bombing of the UK base had made everyone tired. eastern European countries behind were subject. The Over 66,000 civilians had been killed. For the first time, Poles, for whom Britain and France had gone to war in fear for near relatives was a factor in the breakdown of 1939, were now prisoners of the Russians. Berlin was an servicemen all over the world. The appearance of the VIs isolated island within - the Berlin airlift, another of the Battle Honours of the RAF, saved the city from and V2s to the south in 1944, when all thought that major incorporation. raids were over, produced large casualties. The V2 was Soviets had almost reached Denmark~and the North the first Scud missile, which I can remember myself Sea, but were foiled by Allied intervention. Their clearly as an explosion out of nowhere; fortunately it had Communist creed, however, now finding open favour in no chemical component. But the threat of gas was real. all countries, made no secret of its intention to take over All of us remembered gas drill from the first days of the the corrupt world of the west. "We will bury you," said ~ war in 1939. And behind it all now, by 1945, was the Mr Krushchev. : huge threat of the atomic bomb. Everything just In all parts of the world its agents were at work. Oxford described made the youth tired and thin. A returned and Cambridge, always hotbeds of revolutionary causes, prisoner of war from the Far East - where the rations

had their open cells and traitors already secretly in post.http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ could not have been called substantial - said when he saw They would not be exposed till many years later. In the his younger brother of 16 years; "Gosh, isn't the boy Far East, Communism was the victor in China, where the thin"! Like their elders, the young wanted real peace and later horrors of the cultural revolution were also to they wanted it badly. become public in due course. Communists were active in Now can we consider the general and particular Australia. The march of Communism was irreversible, its political background. Mobilization of the Territorial Army proponents declared. Many western socialists were and Regular Reserves had been set in motion by the sympathetic. Reserve and Auxiliary Forces Act of 25th May 1939, 2 The new world order was called by Mr. Winston and 3 George VI. "Whereas a situation has arisen in Churchill "The Cold War", and its continuance over the which it is necessary that His Majesty should be next 40 years would determine all military strategy during empowered, whenever the service of his reserve and that time. Fears were most immediate in Europe and in auxiliary Forces is urgently required for ensuring Malaya, where Chinese Communist guerrillas looked on October 1, 2021 by preparedness for the defence of the realm against any likely to take over the peninsula and beyond. Open external danger; to call out for service such of them as warfare would soon break out in Korea. may be needed: Now, therefore, be it enacted by the It was all this which led to the unique period in British King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice of history, when conscription would be called for in time of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this peace and which would last for 15 years. One army would present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the be needed to go to Germany as more than a mere post-war same:" ... garrison; it would have to guard the eastern boundary J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-141-01-02 on 1 February 1995. Downloaded from

JSG Blair 9 against the Soviet bloc. In the Far East, active operations liable to be called upon to serve in the Armed Forces of would also require many troops; the errors of 1941 dared the Crown for two terms of service, that is to say:- not be repeated. a) a term of whole-time service, that is to say, service And so, in 1946, it was clear that a further Act, to be in the regular Forces for a period of twelve months or called a National Service Act, had to come before such shorter period as His Majesty may by order in Parliament. The Labour Government, voted into office by Council appoint, and a huge majority, was expected by some to sweep away all b) a term of part-time service as defined by this Act traditional institutions. But it did not, and was composed ... which was in effect to be six years following the last of true patriots who had the nation's interests very much day of his whole-time service. During that time, the at heart. The patriotism of a number, however, did not reservist was to undergo up to 21 days in any year, or 60 rate the Armed Forces a high priority. days in the whole period of his part-time service. Mr. Attlee, the Prime Minister, posed the difficulties on Perhaps the most significant point in the whole of this 4th March 1946. He noted the need to allow is the statement that service was to be in the Regular demobilization and release of those who had served in the Service, that is to say, the man was in effect a one year War - only, as he said, 7 or 8 months back - but not at the Regular soldier. He was not in any way different, as far as exp~nse of destroying the efficiency of the Forces. He how and where he must serve was concerned, from his noted the burden of the occupying Forces needed in regular comrades. National Servicemen can call Austria, , the Far East, Greece, Palestine, Java, and themselves, therefore, Regulars on a limited term. Persia, as well as Germany. He was aware of instability in I believe this concept is correct, even though never a way perhaps not acknowledged by government at previously expressed, and gives a clue to the relationship present. between National Service and longer term Regular which

"J want to deal with a matter on which I know there is we will examine later. But when the Bill came forwardguest. Protected by copyright. some criticism. While our commitments remain as they for formal reading, it was a 2-year period which was are,. we must continue to call up young men for the deemed essential, and not a I-year. This was because of Services. The complaint is that we have not yet decided the demands of garrison duty, said Mr A V Alexander, on the length of that service in the future. I am aware of the Minister. The longer term at once produced difficulties for the young, their parents, educational antagonism, and the debates in the early part of 1947 are establishments" . worth reading. The opposition became such that the When the Army Estimates were debated in 1947, Dr Government offered to reduce the term to 18 months. Haden Guest referred to the Medical Services in words Next, with the enthusiastic backing of the Liberal which have a present-day ring about them. He spoke of Party, the Bill's opponents tabled an amendment to the "acute difficulties of medical manpower in the reduce the term to 12 months. Later again, as well as the Services of the Nation". He went on: "If the Services are left-wing Labour members, who opposed the Bill on to function properly, they must have a complete, skilled idealistic as well as political and economic grounds, the medical service. That is an inescapable obligation. We Liberals in fact wanted it thrown out altogether. Mr also: have to remember that the National Health Service is Clement Davies, the Liberal leader, said the Bill infringed . beginning in 1948 and will make great claims. We have the personal liberty of the people. "The Liberal Party," he

, to balance the two. Specialists in particular are in short said, "remained true to their convictions ... Would anyonehttp://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ supply, and there was no good professional training in Moscow be influenced that our young men were being available". He saw clearly the small size of the training conscripted? This is a challenge I will fight to the end." base and the difficulties this would pose. Mr Davies went on to remind the Labour Party of their qr Guest had gone around military medical taunts against Mr Neville Chamberlain in 1938 when he establishments and found poor communication between sought to introduce a Conscription Bill: "They accused junior officers and their commanders. The working party him of going back on his pledge to the people." How little of members of Parliament who had visited with him also if ever do politicians change. fouhd that the response to regular recruiting was poor. Among the many speakers in the debates of April 1947, Les~ than half the numbers required - and this was for all two are worth quoting. Mr James Callaghan, newly arm's - were coming forward. elected member for Cardiff South, made strong attacks on By 1947, the National Service Act was to be brought the attitude of the Labour Government to the Armed before Parliament. "Be it enacted ... " the preamble was Forces. "We cannot maintain these huge forces that we on October 1, 2021 by followed by the meat of the Bill. have today. We cannot continue them for a second longer, 1 (1) Subject to the provisions of the National Service and they should be drastically cut. There are greater risks Adts, 1939 to 1946, and this Act, (which Acts are in not reducing our Armed Forces than in reducing them." hereinafter referred to as the National Service Act) every He went on to insist that the Soviet Union would never male British Subject who has attained the age of 18 years have it in mind to attack the West. and has not attained the age of 26 years and is ordinarily Mr R A Butler, of the Conservative Opposition, resident in Great Britain shall, by virtue of this Act, be reminded the government of the need to maintain the J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-141-01-02 on 1 February 1995. Downloaded from

10 Mitchiner Lecture, 1994 Regular element. "The intricacies of modern war," he in the many and large training depots where all Arms and said, "and the complication of the weapons, demands a Services substituted National Servicemen for war-time core of long-term professional soldiers. That is quite recruits. The training was similar; the only difference was certain." that the recruit was being trained for a 2 year peace-time - At the division, 242 Labour members voted for the career and not for posting to a fighting unit at the end6f ~ Bill, the 131 rump of Conservatives, 8 Liberal his 6 weeks. Alongside the NS majority were the minority Nationalists, and 7 Independents. 72 Labour MPs, all 10 who had engaged into the long term Army for 20 years. Liberals, 2 Independent Labour and the 1 Communist RAMC soldiers were assembled at "B" Reception voted against. Mr Price White, a Welsh member, said he Company at Keogh Barracks (renamed from Boyce voted against because no-one in Wales would have Barracks in 1948), in batches of 200 every fortnight conscription. On the other hand, Northern Irish members except before Christmas. The 6 week recruit course was - pleaded for their own young men to be included. of basic training in drill, weapon training, education, and The outcome, then, was that the National Service Act, all things military. After passing out on the "Big Square" with a 2-year term at that, would arrive on the Statute before the Commandant of the Depot and Training Book. After their 2 years with the Colours, they had 5 Establishment the recruit had a further 6 weeks of special­ years of Reserve service, during which time they could be to-Arm training. At the end of this 3 months period, recalled. identical for NS and Regulars, the trained RAMC soldier, It was expected, particularly by Field Marshall with his basic special-to-Arm trade qualification, was Montgomery, now CIGS, that they would all choose to go posted to a unit anywhere from Korea to the Caribbean into the Territorial Army after completing their full-time for the remaining 18 months of his time. Most were Regular service. (The TA itself, merged completely with nursing orderlies grade 3, but some had skills in

the Regular Army in 1939 at the outbreak of hostilities, laboratory, X-ray, public health trades, and a few becameguest. Protected by copyright. -­ was reconstituted as a separate Army in 1947). National mess waiters. Of those the most famous must be Mr. Servicemen were to serve anywhere in the world, with Matthew Dooley, who remained in Millbank for 40 years any unit, including those normally open only to after his National Service was over. volunteers, like paratroops. Where could he go? The of the National Their rates of pay, however, were different, NS soldiers Service time was large. There were still over 1 million in were paid £1-8-0 (£1.49p) per week. Regulars got £2-9-0 1948, and even 5 years later, half a million. Training - (£2.45p) per week. A Lieutenant medical officer on depots were abundant all over the - and commissioning was paid £1-5-0 (£1.25p) per day, which particularly in the big garrisons of , Catterick, equates to £547.50 per annum in 1994 values. He was Tidworth and Salisbury Plain, Colchester, Chester, where - promoted to Captain after 1 year's service and after 18 men drilled on the same square the Romans haq"used, and months' service he was paid Regular rates, being given an London. Infantry depots were in the tribal areas. Because increment of 23p per day. This was £83.95p per annum, of the very large needs of the NS Army, war-time camps and brought his pay scale to £631.45 per annum. (For such as Blandford, Ripon, Barnard Castle, 03westry, _ comparison, pre-registration Lieutenant medical officers Rhyl, Barton Stacey, Hindhead and Yeovil were retained. in 1993 were paid £55.lOp. per day which equates to - none of which had been military areas before in peace- . '" £20,1122 per annum. NS soldiers as well as officers went time. • on Regular rates after 18 months of service. The British Army was deployed all over the world.-Ithttp://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ From the start of 1948, the Jubilee year of the RAMC was in Armies of Occupation in Germany, Austria, and:· as a Corps of the Army, National Service became an Japan. Internal strife with serious security problems in-. accepted fact of life for young men leaving school, and India, Palestine, and the Far East, and on the borders of from the RAMC's point of view, for young men going Germany and Yugoslavia needed an operational level of through Medicine. All those liable knew that a second troops. failure in a degree examination meant instant call-up as a By 1949, although Britain had withdrawn from India, soldier to a basic training unit. The numbers at first Ceylon and Burma following the granting of included those who had just missed war service - some independence, and from Palestine following the setting up - had been in Home Guard units during the last of the War of the State of Israel, there were still garrisons in , - - and students who had had compulsory training in the Cyprus, Aden, , the Sudan, Hong Kong, the West University STC (Senior Training Corps) as Indies, and in East and West Africa. The Trieste British on October 1, 2021 by undergraduates. Very many non-university boys had been element remained. Active warfare was taking place in I in the Army Cadet Force. Malaya and a real shooting war would shortly break out ~. Those who had had STC training - and that was all in Korea. There were troops in France, Belgium, Holland, students initially - knew well the rigours of basic infantry Eritrea, Cyrenacia, Tripolitania and Somaliland. The training, since the "tough battle training" introduced in British Army was dispersed, in fact, more widely than it 1942-43 had not lightened in the years 1944-45. This had ever been. All these garrisons and stations required meant they were conversant with the lot of the squaddie medical cover in varying degree. J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-141-01-02 on 1 February 1995. Downloaded from

JSG Blair 11 . ,During his last clinical year the student received his between 1400 and 1700 hrs on the day in question at - call-:up notification. Because of the size of the Army Aldershot railway station, was a third class railway - relative to the other two Services, this was for the RAMC warrant from your home and a list of clothing to be unleks he made a positive request otherwise. There was brought. There was also a list of trains from Waterloo no selection for the RAMC and no pre-entry interview. Station - on the hour or the half hour - and the assurance After medical qualification there was a medical that travel by your own car to Queen Elizabeth Barracks, examination, carried out by general practitioners at the Church Crookham, was in order. The latest time of tOWI)~s local recruiting board (which at times struggled reporting was stated, in block capitals, to be 1800 hrs. with the recently devised PULHEEMS system of Service For those who had lived away from home at school or medical classification) or, in a garrison town, perhaps at a university this was just another move, for those who had - Regular medical board. These were moderately strict remained at home during school or university, a new and examinations, including a chest X-ray. The grossly worrying experience. Many officer recruits went to their ove~worked housemen of those days often turned up hairdresser to ask for a military style haircut before they exhausted on their half-day, and were told by their left, though in the years concerned the hair of young men examiners that their health would soon improve with the in their early twenties was usually short anyway. Even operiair activity for which His Majesty's Forces were so these would not infrequently hear the Sergeant-Major say famous. in their ear on an early parade: "Haircut, Sir". The actual call-up date was not strictly determined. The electric trains on the Southern Railway, and, after Sinc.e there were two intakes a month, officer entry could nationalisation, the Southern Region of British Railways, be delayed to suit an examination, or for a family reason. left from Waterloo on the dot of 3 minutes and 33 The large intakes of medical officers were in July and minutes past the hour. The journey to Aldershot took an

- August, corresponding to graduation dates, or in March at hour and ten minutes, the train usually stoppingguest. Protected by copyright. at the end of the first house job. In the first years of National Surbiton, Esher, Weybridge, West Weybridge, West Service there were no pre-registration posts - a graduate Byfleet (then an unspoiled village), Woking, Brookwood, in medicine at a British university was under no legal or Ash Vale - where the Dakota aircraft stood at the side of moral obligation to do one till 1953. the parade square at Keogh Barracks, and Aldershot. A small minority were able to delay their call-up for Three-ton trucks stood in the road beside the station. The longer than one year - if they obtained a junior registrar's bunch of young doctors - aged from 22 to perhaps 24 with post' (equivalent to today's SHO). The extra experience if a minority up to 28 or 29 - helped one another with their long enough, or sometimes the higher qualification passed trunks and suitcases. ahead of the field, gained them clinical status higher than The trucks set off, and they crouched on the floor for the ordinary GDMO (General Duties Medical Officer). the ride along the Queen's Avenue, with the Cambridge ODMO was the lowest level. One above was "GDMO Hospital on the right at the top of Gun Hill and the with experience" - usually meaning up to 6 months extra Airborne Forces Depot on the left, past barracks after traiping or say the DRCOG - and above that was barracks, married quarters after married quarters, to North "Clinical Officer". This meant a year's extra post­ Camp at the far end. Then via a few turns of the road, to graduate time in some specialty. The two highest levels, the spiders of the Depot and Training Establishment, Junior and Senior specialist, needed more time than the , at Crookham. http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ National Service officer would ever have; they applied to The 6-week course now beginning was called rather the fully trained specialist. unfortunately "LOFAS" (Lieutenant on First Extra training was encouraged, for example, for Appointment). Everyone, including Short Service and anaesthetists or obstetricians, or for laboratory specialists, permanent career Regulars, did the same course. On since the Regular Medical Corps had nowhere like the arrival at Crookham, to live in the spiders, as the hutted numbers required to meet the needs of the very large living quarters were called, the recruit Lieutenant was Anlly of the day. issued with two pairs of battIedress, two pairs of black A very few brightly academic young doctors thus leather boots, gaiters and a web belt which had to be fouhd themselves advising officers their senior on the polished and blancoed, a 1939-45 pattern steel helmet and ne~er fields of the clinical pathology, bacteriology or a 1914-18 pattern respirator. The rest of his clothing was ,. biochemistry. The same applied to some anaesthetists and bought from his uniform allowance of some £40 - the obstetricians, who .could find themselves the specialist in most expensive item was his officer's hat at £5. Instead of on October 1, 2021 by an anaesthetic department in Malaya or the Canal Zone, a.greatcoat, all M.O.'s bought an officer type raincoat ..- or ifl a small maternity unit in Benghazi or Tripoli. from whichever of the military tailors they favoured. This Except for those whose disability or illness barred them raincoat made them easily identifiable. -. - from serving, or those very few who arranged things so After leading the passing-out parade on the "Big that they did not do any service, the notice of call-up Square" where the soldiers drilled (recruit officers were always arrived. Enclosed with this legal document, drilled in private seclusion at Crookham, and for a third - reqUiring upon pain of severe punishment your reporting of their era by the famous and greatly respected QMS J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-141-01-02 on 1 February 1995. Downloaded from

12 Mitchiner Lecture, 1994 Donegan, MBE, before he became Depot RSM in 1953), Surgery at Glasgow Royal Infirmary after a scholarship to no more drill was done. Yet it was remarkable how a train at the Mayo Clinic - and whose language would have­ group of often unwilling young doctors was transformed impressed even Mitchiner), Norman Bradford, to be at Crookham into a smart and proud squad. recalled later, Hugh Webb (an Oxford Blue, who became_ The recruited medical officers had also to take part in a Consultant Neurologist and Professor of Neuro-Virology training mess dinner at the Depot Mess proper, Redfields at St Thomas' Hospital), and your lecturer of today. We Officers' Mess. Some cynical new officers believed that were well beaten in the final by the Royal Artillery. this dinner was an item in selection for posting - it was The NSM were, by reason of their numbers, by far the _ believed that the young Lieutenants who drank most and largest element in the RAMC during their period. They entered into the spirit of the post-dinner games they were served everywhere and had their share of decorations in - forced to take part in, were posted to the most fashionable Korea, Malaya, and at Suez. Certain units were wholly - regiments. The quiet introverts, acutely embarrassed at staffed by them - except for the Commanding Officer and having to take part in mess games would, it was alleged, QM. Occasionally, as at Catterick in 1954-55, they took find themselves in a military hospital or medical reception over the running of the Mess, did away with uniform for station. I am sure there was truth in the belief. dinner nights, and over-did things. Though working hard _ Two weeks of professional training within the gracious in Malaya, they distressed General Cantlie on a visit by atmosphere of Millbank followed. Here lounge suits were having large-sized demobilization charts painted on the worn, the Lieutenants lived three to a room and had a wall of the hospital Mess. pitcher of hot water brought them to wash and shave in. How did the National Servicemen see themselves with The quality of instruction was high, most but not all respect to their Regular colleagues and vice versa? And is lecturers agreeable, and for the first time the new men there evidence that mutual feeling was any different in the

began to understand the excellence of military medicine RAMC than elsewhere? guest. Protected by copyright. and the great tradition they were following. The attitude of permanent, life-career members of many Lastly, a further 2 weeks were carried out, this time in teeth arms units towards their NS officers and soldiers - - the military surroundings of Keogh Officers' Mess at again in the majority at junior rank level - is of interest. It Mytchett, one week at the Army School of Health and the ranges from that of certain regiments of the line who second at the Field Training School. Here hygiene and regarded them as certainly less good, less dedicated, and RAMC skills were taught, the dangers of the "filthy feet less loyal - as a retired infantry Lieutenant- said to - of the faecal-feeding fly" emphasised at the School of me recently "the soldiers in Korea did very well, even Health, and some preparation for war at the Field School. though they were National Service" - to that of other Finally, each was posted - to three sorts of area: home regiments who found no difference at all between-­ postings (this included the British Army of the Rhine in volunteers and conscripts. Germany), the Middle East including Africa or the Far It was perhaps the feeling of potential disloyalty which East including Korea. While most who went to Korea caused most trouble, the feeling that the NS group were - volunteered to go, this was not always so. This lecturer, likely to go "Bolshie". When this happened, it was the returning from leave in Spring of 1953, discovered he had shared fault of both elements - the one who wore the been on a draft for Korea as a Field Transfusion Officer uniform but had not joined the regiment, as Major­ (perhaps because he had done extra Obstetrics) but had General Douglas Wimbedey put it, and the other who _ been taken off because he had at that time a single-figure never let the conscripts feel that they really belonged.http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ In golf handicap and was required for the Corps team. one or two units National Service officers were actually - I In the NS era the RAMC, with all other parts of the put at different tables in the Mess. Army, had its quota of conscripted sportsmen. All the This did not happen in our Corps. After having heard billet orderlies at Crookham were, or seemed to be, many opinions now over many years, I believe this to be footballers of professional standard. They were absent so. From the very beginning of publication of the Army _ from Friday afternoons to play on Saturdays, and during Services magazine in 1948, it was made plain that the the week for training. At least one rugby international RAMC and RAMC Associations were open to all - the - spent his entire"2 years at the Depot so that he could play named groups in 1948 being Regulars, Territorials (most - for the Corps team. of whom had been through the War) and National _ The RAMC golf hierarchy were a little slow to Service. The inclusion of the last, at that date wholly , acknowledge the existence of NSM. They were not untried group, is I believe evidence that the RAMC' on October 1, 2021 by permitted to play in Corps competitions until 1951. In wanted them to be part of the Corps family from the start. 1952 Captain FWG Deighton, a Walker Cup player, led At all levels the conscripts were treated no differently _A the side beaten in the Army Golf Challenge Cup. Very from their Regular colleagues. While a number did quickly, the golf team was full of NSM - in 1954 they undoubtedly sulk their way through their 2 years, the­ reached the final of the Army Golf Championships at majority agreed that their whole-time service had been a _ Royal St George's, and were represented by Captains worthwhile period for them. It should not be forgotten - I Shedden Alexander (who became Senior Lecturer in think it is - that those who did their years of reserve ' J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-141-01-02 on 1 February 1995. Downloaded from

lSG Blair 13 commitment with the TA also enjoyed themselves. The they saw it. As in all walks of life, the feeling they took less enthusiastic remained on the "ordinary reserve", with them was dependent upon the individuals they met. Those of us who have maintained an active connection The group of medical officers who had the hardest time .' with the Corps and for whom the Army is a large part of were those in the training depots, especially those in the our life should not forget that the great majority of large Corps like Royal Engineers, Royal Signals and National Service doctors, once their compulsory years on Royal Army Service Corps. During its peak years, the Reserve were over, forgot about us. For them, the National Service meant the arrival of thousands of youths - RAMC ceased to be. every two weeks throughout the year. These young For an illustration of just how little thought the former doctors had to medically examine, inoculate, educate and medical officers gave the Army, the story of Dr. Norman doctor large numbers week after week for 2 years. They Bradford, just mentioned as Captain Bradford in the had often had anxious decisions to make; the bulk of RAMC team of 1954, with a handicap then of 4, is a good recruits who ran into medical or psychological trouble did one. so during their 6-week basic training. Sadly, from this In 1990, Lieutenant-General Sir James Baird was at St. group came those whose resentment and anti-army jibes Andrews for the Open. He had never been at an Open persisted throughout their lives. there before and was naturally excited. As Lieutenant­ But all, I think, felt themselves "in the same bracket", Colonel James Baird he was my foursomes partner at the if one can use this expression, as their Regular colleagues, bottom of the RAMC team for two and a half years, and I especially those of similar age. All had gone through the must pay tribute to his unchanging friendliness ever since same system; all shared the same day by day difficulties - he was always Jimmy to me, even though rising to or dangers. In this there was never the tension which has become Director General - and earned my sincere arisen from time to time between officers of what is still

affection - anyway, here he was outside the R&A called "The Active Army" and those in the Territorialguest. Protected by copyright. Clubhouse when who should appear but Norman Army who have known only weekends and annual camps. Bradford, then President of the English Golf Union and We who were National Service officers did not need to one of the big men around. "You're Jimmy Baird, aren't have the "One Army" concept given to us; we were one you?" asked the cheerful Ulsterman. "Yes," replied the Army - even those who didn't like it all that much - and General. "I remember you", went on Dr. Bradford, "you we remain at one with Regulars because of that used to play in the RAMC golf team". "Yes, I did," knowledge and that fellow-feeling. So I can say to any answered the former DG. "How have you been getting on younger medical officers here this evening who then," went on Norman, "did you stay in?" undoubtedly wonder what funny people called National The image the National Serviceman would take away Servicemen were like: we really do share your ethos and with him to civil life, where he might finish anywhere, understand it in a way someone who never went through was more important then many later Regular AMS the Depot, Millbank - now Sandhurst, of course, but we officers realised. The image he gained while doing his 2 learned much the same at Crookham - cannot. We are not years was also important - several NS Medical officers, just another sort of "Reservist" and I hope our Corps will elected to convert, either during, or at the end of, their NS never think that is what we were. time. Had there been no National Service, at least one or In the years of the National Service Era, there were

two of these could have been denied to the Corps. Some 223,000 NSM in the Army compared with 181,000http://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ were unhappy for reasons not necessarily connected with soldiers on a Regular engagement. By 1960, when the last the fact that they were in the Active Army for 2 years. NS intakes were called, there were 79,000 left. National These ranged from the Scot who was punished for putting Service ended when the Malayan Campaign was won, but a match to the newspaper of the Adjutant of a Guards of the last intakes some were required to serve for 212 Regiment who ignored his "Good Morning" at breakfast years. to the Welshman of high principle who, at the dizzy It was plain by the later 1950's, however, that changes height of temporary Major's rank as MO i/c troops on a would have to be made to anticipate the end of the Era. ship bound for the Far East, on being told that he must The NSM had brought in all the medical graduates of the issue contraceptives when the ship docked at Malta, not nation but this input of skill and ability would also stop. only failed to do so but threw the entire consignment into There could well be a backlash of lack of interest which the Grand Harbour. He was sent to No 2 Training could given the all-volunteer Army a major task to Regiment, RASC at Willems Barracks, Wellington Lines, increase its strength to the required figure of 165,000 by on October 1, 2021 by Aldershot, then a punishment posting. the end of 1962. On the other hand, enough NSM of It is true that many, while aware of the tradition they ability and drive had decided to stay on that there was a were sharing and of the excellence of the administration, good nucleus available for the next years and longer. were critical of medical and especially of surgical Well before the end of the National Service Era, technical ability they saw in some career specialists they however, the man who many considered the greatest post­ came into contact with. Equally, they were quick to war Director General, Lieutenant-General Sir Alexander commend good technique and obvious experience when Drummond, began to realise that to maintain the Regular J R Army Med Corps: first published as 10.1136/jramc-141-01-02 on 1 February 1995. Downloaded from

14 Mitchiner Lecture, 1994 element in the Corps at a high clinical level, a new sort of of London for joint chairs of surgery and medicine. training for specialists was vital. If it was not, the RAMC In 1962 the two schemes to encourage young doctors to would become divorced from what was now the standard join the Corps were introduced - the medical cadetship -' demanded by the NHS. By 1958, the Diamond Jubilee scheme and the "New Deal". They were announced in the year, when a special stamp was issued, he was openly House of Commons on 8th March, 1962 by the Secretary talking of "austerity" as the Regular Forces were about to of State for War, Mr John Profumo. Basically, these two run down. The TA was well supplied with consultants - offers allowed undergraduates if accepted for a though poorly recruited for other ranks - and they had commission to have the last 3 or 4 years of their - nearly all gone through the National Service system. university fees paid, and they themselves paid as Second The old grade of specialist, such as General Cantlie had Lieutenants on probation. When they graduated, they been designated in general surgery and he himself in oto­ became Short Service or Regular officers; the majority - rhino-laryngology, was now unacceptable in the eyes of chose Short Service. They had to serve at least 5 years. the committees of Royal Colleges and the major specialty As far as graduate entry was concerned, medical and _ Associations. The NHS progression through registrar, dental officers (aged 25) were Captain on entry could senior registrar, and lastly, full consultant status by expect promotion to Major after about 5 years (previously accreditation and open competition, would have to be been 7, and remained 7 for TA), (aged 30); and to available to the RAMC to give the Regular an equivalent Lieutenant-Colonel after 13 years (aged 36). Most, it was standing. stated, would be promoted to full Colonel's rank after 23 General Drummond also saw that the continuing years (aged 48). It was a very good package. diminution in the range of postings for career medical The National Servicemen held the fort for 15 important officers - India was already a fading memory - was going years in the 20th century. They swelled the ranks of the to lessen the attractions of a Regular career. His second British Army at a time when our nation, because guest. Protected by copyright. of its - task was to produce a series of measures which would tiny population, could not otherwise have produced the _ encourage new entrants. numbers necessary to garrison the West and deter the Finally, soldier training would have to be provided in East. They did everything asked of them and so merit newer and better surroundings; this would mean your acknowledgement; they were in no way a collection upgradings and improvements at Mytchett. of the disaffected and unhelpful. The very last of them Negotiations with the major post-graduate bodies left in 1963; some had been obliged to serve more than 2 inevitably took time. Several of the changes were not years, but a good number, myself among them, elected to finalised until after General Drummond's 6 years as DG were over - the longest period of office since General lengthen their time by 6 months. Hood's. But the credit for their initiation and their The full-time element in the RAMC used them well, eventual acceptance by the Colleges and Associations with few exceptions, so that the former National was his. He had the essential attributes of good briefing, Servicemen retained a respect for the RAMC which those firm negotiation, and most of all, great determination; it of them who rose high in the National Health Service put was fortunate for the Corps he was in post at the time. to good use on a number of important occasions. We are The training of consultants was to follow exactly the now dying out, but this is our legacy. NHS pattern - specialists and senior specialists And in their unique Era, the full-time element on the corresponded to registrars and senior registrars, and RAMC with great sense made the transition not just fromhttp://militaryhealth.bmj.com/ ' gained increased rates of pay. Because Army hospitals war to peace, but to a vital change, and a change for the could not provide the range and difficulty of clinical better, in its clinical training and standards. We former material the NHS could, attachments to selected Teaching NSM, in our turn, respect you for doing this well. Hospitals had to be negotiated. If the officer was judged For those of you who went through the National at the end of his higher professional training as fit to be a Service system, I hope this talk has brought back to you consultant, he went before the Army Specialist and the past and your early days at Crookham and Keogh. I - Consultant Board. When passed, he achieved consultant hope it may have recalled for you some of the fun. For - status and the pay that went with it. The difference with those of you who came later - and indeed even for those _ his civilian colleagues was that his consultancy was not of you whose connection with the Corps ended before won in open competition. The recognition of Army 1948 - I hope it has been an account of an Era of some specialists as fully comparable with NHS ones was sealed interest. For nothing like it ever happened before and on October 1, 2021 by we in 1961 by arrangements with the Royal College of can be reasonably sure nothing like it will ever happen Surgeons of and the Royal College of Physicians again.